But she did not try to run away.
He flung round upon his heel and paced the veranda in fierce discomfort.
Beast that he was--brute beast to have hurt her so! That piteous sobbing was more than he could bear.
Suddenly he turned back to her, came and stood beside her.

"Puck--Puck, child!" he said.
His voice was soft and very urgent.

He touched the bent, dark head with a hesitating caress.
She started away from him with a gasp of dismay; but he checked her.
"No, don't!" he said.

"It's all right, dear.

I'm not such a brute as I seem.